UFCW Local 135http://ufcw135.com
Fri, 16 Feb 2018 17:55:10 +0000en-UShourly1A Salute to Labor and Working Familieshttp://ufcw135.com/2018/02/09/a-salute-to-labor-and-working-families/
Fri, 09 Feb 2018 18:37:01 +0000http://ufcw135.com/?p=210102/09/2018 – The Community is invited to attend a Salute to Labor and Working Families on Sunday Morning, April 8, 2018 at 8 a.m. at Saint Stephen’s Cathedral Church of God in Christ. The address is 5825 Imperial Ave., San Diego, CA 92114.

Bring the family. The morning message will be given by Dr. Tamica Smith Jones, Director of Intercollegiate Athletes at UC Riverside. For more information, call (619) 262-2671

RICHARD BARRERA Secretary-Treasurer

2018 will be a big year, let’s become more engaged in our union than ever before!

2018 will be a big year for UFCW Local 135. We have four major contract negotiations coming up, as well as several important political races. We have already begun the process of negotiating Viejas and Kaiser contracts, and within the next couple of months we will begin negotiating our Rite Aid contract with our sister locals throughout Southern California. Later this year, we will be negotiating our Spreckels Sugar Plant contract in Imperial County.

At December’s Stewards Conference, we had a workshop about all of the different ways we can contribute to our union this year. We will need members who are ready to participate in actions when and if they are necessary at Viejas, Kaiser, Rite Aid, and Spreckels. And you don’t have to work in one of those places to come out. In our Union, we all help each other out when necessary.

We know that to win good contracts in 2018, to elect worker-friendly candidates to office, and to prepare for our big contract negotiations in 2019 with the major grocery stores, we need to demonstrate the full power of our nearly 14,000 members.

We will also need members to get involved in our political program in 2018, which will include important races for local city council candidates all the way up to races for Congress and the Governor of California. Traditionally, when we endorse pro-union worker candidates, we then walk precincts and phone bank for them. We would love to have new faces join us this year.Of course, we will continue to have our regular membership meetings at the local where we need big turnout to make sure we all stay up-to-date on the status of negotiations. And we will be developing an incentive program where the more you volunteer, the more you can earn great union swag.

Finally, we will be planning social events where members and their families can get together and get to know each other outside of work so we can build a closer-knit community. We know that to win good contracts in 2018, to elect worker-friendly candidates to office, and to prepare for our big contract negotiations in 2019 with the major grocery stores, we need to demonstrate the full power of our nearly 14,000 members.

A union is working people standing together to bargain with their employers for better pay, safer working conditions and decent benefits. When workers stand together, we have power. And that power makes the American Dream more possible for everyone.

How can you get involved? Start by letting your stewards and your rep know how you want to help our union this year and what kind of time you have available. We are stronger together. 

]]>UFCW Applauds Decision to Reject Push to End Poultry Line Speed Limitshttp://ufcw135.com/2018/02/06/ufcw-applauds-decision-to-reject-push-to-end-poultry-line-speed-limits/
Tue, 06 Feb 2018 22:50:03 +0000http://ufcw135.com/?p=209202/06/2018 – On Jan. 30, UFCW International President Marc Perrone released a statement regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to deny the National Chicken Council’s (NCC) petition to eliminate line speed limits at poultry plants.

Thousands of UFCW members who work in poultry plants sent comments to the USDA about the dangers of this petition. The UFCW also sent letters in October and December of 2017 to the USDA that highlighted how risky the NCC petition to eliminate line speeds would be for both workers and consumers.

]]>Kroger to sell its convenience stores for $2.15 billionhttp://ufcw135.com/2018/02/05/02-05-2018-kroger-to-sell-its-convenience-stores-for-2-15-billion/
Mon, 05 Feb 2018 18:50:41 +0000http://ufcw135.com/?p=200202/05/2018 – Kroger will sell nearly 800 convenience stores to British gas station operator EG Group for $2.15 billion, the U.S. supermarket chain said on Monday, as it sharpens focus on its mainstay grocery business amid a brutal price war.

Kroger said it plans to use proceeds from the sale to buy back shares and lower debt. The sale is part of Cincinnati-based Kroger’s “Re-stock” plan that aims to revamp its nearly 2,800 brick-and-mortar supermarkets, cut prices and boost in-store technology. Kroger is also investing in online channels amid stiff competition from chief rival Walmart, discounters Lidl and Aldi, and Whole Foods, which is owned by Amazon.com.

Kroger’s convenience stores business that includes Turkey Hill, Loaf ‘N Jug, Kwik Shop, and Tom Thumb, had annual revenue of $4 billion. Its supermarket fuel centers and Turkey Hill Dairy are not part of the sale. Kroger said in October it was looking for buyers for its convenience stores business. Goldman Sachs was Kroger’s financial adviser, while Morgan Stanley, Bank of America/Merrill Lynch and Barclays advised EG.

Join us for Tony The Movie by Dennis Stein
About the movie: The Movie follows Tony’s life on the streets in San Diego and him learning about solutions to the homelessness crisis.
60 min. Stay after the movie for Q&A with Dennis & Tony. Please RSVP. Free Event

RICHARD BARRERA Secretary-Treasurer

Viejas Members Prepare for a New Contract Fight

Three years ago nearly 500 workers at the Viejas Casino voted to join UFCW Local 135. As a result of that decision, Viejas members were able to bargain for and win a great contract in 2015. That contract included guaranteed raises, affordable health care and the dignity and respect that comes with being a UFCW member.

The current Viejas contract expires in March of 2018, and our members have already started preparing for the next contract. At the local, we have held monthly Viejas membership meetings since the summer, where members have begun to discuss the key improvements they want to see in their workplace.

A few issues have so far risen to the top of the priority list. Workers want to continue with fair, guaranteed raises, but don’t want to be left behind when the company provides end-of-the year holiday bonuses.

In fact, two years ago, Viejas chose to award non-union members with a $1,000 holiday bonus, but to only provide a $500 bonus for union members. Our Viejas members fought back against this unfair decision and UFCW won we brought the case to arbitration.

“A federal arbitrator ordered Viejas management to pay union members the additional $500, but Viejas has so far refused to comply with the Arbitrator’s order. We will continue through the legal process to fight back against Viejas’s cynical anti-union behavior. But in the meantime, we have many other issues that members want to fight for in the next contract.”

A federal arbitrator ordered Viejas management to pay union members the additional $500, but Viejas has so far refused to comply with the Arbitrator’s order. We will continue through the legal process to fight back against Viejas’s cynical anti-union behavior. But in the meantime, we have many other issues that members want to fight for in the next contract.

Viejas members want to ensure that health care remains affordable. They want to ensure that the best shifts, including shifts in the mornings and on weekends, are scheduled by seniority and not by the arbitrary whims of management. Viejas members deserve more paid holidays and deserve predictable schedules that allow them to plan their lives. UFCW Organizer Maribel Mckinze, working in partnership with Union Representative Beatriz Nunez, has begun to visit Viejas members in their homes to have deeper conversations about what they want to see in their next contract.

While Viejas members are coming together and preparing to fight to improve their workplace, we anticipate that Viejas management will continue to operate from an anti-union position. Viejas’s corporate leaders have even gone so far as to testify before Congress, arguing that they should be exempt from the same labor laws and regulations that protect workers in all industries.
We know this will be a fight, but we also know our Viejas members will stand together to win a fair contract. Our Viejas members have been there on the front lines for all UFCW members in recent contract fights, including our most recent campaign with Food 4 Less. Next year we will be asking that all UFCW members stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers at Viejas.
For more information on the Viejas campaign, go to: https://www.facebook.com/UFCW135Viejas/.

Winning in an Anti-Union Climate

We have four fights on our hands this year in contract negotiations with Viejas Casino, Rite Aid, Spreckels Sugar and Kaiser Permanente. With that, and all the negativity in politics these days, we enter the most difficult negotiations of all time.

I know I say that every time we go into negotiations, but this time is different. The culture is becoming more and more anti-union all the time. Our employers are becoming more greedy and don’t want to pay you a decent wage and want to cut your benefits despite you making them wealthy.

Federally, it seems legislators would like to destroy unions. More than half of the states in our country are now “Right-to-Work” states. What that means to you and me is that unions must represent employees who aren’t required to join the union.

Fortunately, we are somewhat insulated in California in that we have a democratic majority of legislators who understand what it’s like to be one of us—working people supporting our families. When we support a candidate, we make sure that they know what it’s like to be one of us, which is why we work so hard at election time.

We need to elect candidates who understand what it’s like to be one of us—working people supporting our families. We need member involvement. This year we want you to come out and help us walk precincts and phone bank for candidates we determine to have working people’s best interests at heart.

Our goals remain the same – to protect and serve the members of UFCW Local 135. We will succeed by protecting your health care, retirement and ensuring that you all have good, safe jobs. We will be looking to get you solid pay raises as well.

Our goals remain the same – to protect and serve the members of UFCW Local 135. We will succeed by protecting your health care, retirement and ensuring that you all have good, safe jobs. We will be looking to get you good, solid pay raises as well.

For your Union Leadership to negotiate the best possible contract, you and your coworkers must be strong and unified. This will send a strong message to management that you support your Union’s actions and are willing to take action – if necessary – to obtain a fair and equitable contract.

Our local has one of the best reputations for being strong and powerful. We have an outstanding tradition of excellence in representing our members. The staff here, including myself, are committed to serving your needs.

We want our members to be the beneficiaries of our hard work. But we can’t do it without your hard work too. We need everyone to jump in and be available for actions should the need arise. With this particular set of negotiations, I’m pretty sure we will be calling on you. We will need the help of all of our members, even if you don’t work at a particular place of employment, we want you to come out and fight for your brothers and sisters in the union.

We are dedicated to protecting members’ interests and improving wages, hours and working conditions for all. When working people stand together and fight, we win.

]]>12/05/2017 – *Correction to December Workerhttp://ufcw135.com/2017/12/05/12-05-2017-correction-to-december-worker/
Tue, 05 Dec 2017 16:44:51 +0000http://ufcw135.com/?p=1900The December Worker incorrectly stated information regarding the number of days you have to file a grievance. The correct information is: If you are unfairly disciplined, you have 7 days to file a grievance.
]]>11/30/2017 – San Diego Working Families Council Toy Drivehttp://ufcw135.com/2017/11/30/11-30-2017-san-diego-working-families-council/
Fri, 01 Dec 2017 00:20:45 +0000http://ufcw135.com/?p=1881

‘Tis the season for giving and gratitude! We’re hosting the annual labor Toy Drive with the United Way of San Diego County and collecting toys and gifts for union families struggling to make ends meet this holiday season. Bring toy donations by UFCW Local 135 by December 13. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

RICHARD BARRERA Secretary-Treasurer

UFCW Pharmacists Standing up for Patients, Making Change in California

Our grocery store pharmacists have for years been dealing with dangerous levels of understaffing. This often leaves a pharmacist by themselves with no support even as they are required to provide increased services to patients, including immunizations, in addition to their normal duties.

Some of our courageous pharmacist leaders are now bringing this situation to the attention of elected officials in Sacramento. In response to pharmacists’ concerns, our UFCW Western States Council approached Sacramento’s leaders and asked for legislative hearings so that we could bring the issue to light.

As a sign of UFCW’s influence in Sacramento, a new sub-committee of the State Senate focused on workforce issues in the Pharmacy industry was created. Senator Josh Newman from Orange County took the lead in scheduling a hearing at Cal State Fullerton October 2.

At the hearing, three UFCW pharmacists, Cheryl Butler and Keith Fung from Local 770 and Jean Drexler from Local 324, offered powerful testimony on the risks to both pharmacists and patients from under-staffing.

Bolstering the testimony of our pharmacists at the hearing, Local 135 Pharmacists Suzanne Bradbury and John Leuck submitted written testimony:

From Suzanne Bradbury: “Current work load is now causing excessive stress leaves among employees, as well as poor job satisfaction – leading to faster turnover rates. This puts extreme pressure on remaining staff to work double shifts, as training for new employees is non-existent. We are forced to train staff on-site which is nearly impossible while continuing to be responsible for maintaining daily tasks. It takes upwards of six months to train a technician to be independent in a pharmacy setting. Work flow is then impacted as staff turnover steadily increases because companies do not care if sufficiently trained employees continue. The days of loyalty, earning a pension and vacation weeks, and looking forward to “retirement” are long over as the reward has been removed and the companies reap the benefit of the “lucky to have a job” mentality.

“I now work three 12-hour shifts and use my four leftover hours to get more tech hours. This affects the income for my family, my ability to retire at a certain time, and shortens my time on the clock that would allow me to complete all the required tasks thrown at us. I know more and more people are working off the clock to complete daily tasks to meet demands and still avoid overtime.”

John Leuck: “A lack of proper staffing at Ralphs Pharmacies has created a situation that is potentially dangerous for our patients. The traditional workload for the pharmacist combined with an ever in-creasing clinical load including vaccinations, biometric screenings and MTM management combine to produce a very difficult work environment. Ralphs routinely staffs a single pharmacist, with no ancillary help, on the weekends and for up 5 hours of a 12 hour shift on Monday through Friday. It’s not difficult to see how this could create an environment where it is impossible to function as a professional health care provider.”

At the end of the hearing Senator Newman said, “If pharmacists are taking on an expanded role in health care, we have to take better care of our pharmacists.”Moving forward, additional legislative hearings will be scheduled in other parts of California and our locals will be working with the Western States Council to develop legislation that protects pharmacists in our grocery stores.

Thank you to Suzanne and John for lending your voice for real change for all of our pharmacy members and our patients. To see the hearing, go to: http://ufcw135.com/